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MW Voltaire T. Gazmin Grand Master of Masons, MY 2016-2017 the Cable Tow Vol

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MW Voltaire T. Gazmin Grand Master of Masons, MY 2016-2017 the Cable Tow Vol Special Issue • Our New Grand Master • Grand Lodge Theme for the Year • Plans and Programs • GLP Schedule 2016- 2017 • Masonic Education • The events and Activities of Ancom 2016 • Our New Junior Grand Warden: RW Agapito Suan, Jr. • The new GLP officers and appointees MW Voltaire T. Gazmin Grand Master of Masons, MY 2016-2017 The Cable Tow Vol. 93 Special Issue No. 1 Editor’s Notes In the service of one’s Grand Mother DURING THE GRAND MASTER’S GALA held at the Taal Vista Hotel last April 30, then newly-installed MW Voltaire Gazmin in a hushed voice uttered one of his very first directives as a Grand Master: Let’s come out with a special AnCom issue of The Cable Tow or ELSE! THE LAST TWO WORDS, OF COURSE, IS A across our country’s archipelago and at the same time JOKE! be prompt in the delivery of news and information so needed for the sustenance of the growing craftsman. But our beloved Grand Master did ask for a May issue of the Cable Tow and so he shall have it. Indeed, just as what the Grand Orient directs and as far as Volume 93 is concerned, this publication will This is a special issue of The Cable Tow, which aim to Personify Freemasonry by thinking, writing encases within its pages the events and highlights and publishing articles the Mason’s Way. of the 100th Annual Communications of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted With most of the result of the recent national elections Masons of the Philippines. In this issue also, we will almost a foregone conclusion, we rest assure that be providing to you a short biograpical sketch of our change is apparently coming to the Philippines. As new Grand Master, MW Voltaire T. Gazmin as well you may notice from the new masthead on the cover, as to introduce the newly-elected and installed Junior we at The Cable Tow will also be introducing some Grand Warden, RW Agapito S. Suan, Jr. of Cagayan new and exciting changes in our humble publication De Oro City. that aims to highlight the underlying principles upon which The Cable Tow was created. In addition, we will also be featuring articles on the the masonic theme for the year as well as the Grand Cheers brethren! And Happy reading! Lodge’s strategic focus for the new term. Keeping in focus the points raised by MW Gazmin in his inaugural speech, Volume 93 of The Cable VW Marlon M. Castor Tow aims to reach out further to the brethren spread Editor In-Chief 2 The Cable Tow Vol. 93 Special Issue No. 1 In This Issue Editor’s Notes page 2 The Grand Master’s Word EDITORIAL BOARD page 4 MW RUDYARDO V. BUNDA, PGM, GMH From the AnCom Chairman MW REYNATO S. PUNO, PGM, GMH page 5 MW DANILO D. ANGELES, PGM Tagaytay and the April VW OLIVER V. YABUT, AGS Ancom Fever VW SIXTO S. ESQUIVIAS IV, PGA page 6 VW SAMUEL P. FERNANDEZ, PGC For Love of Flag, Family and VW FLOR R. NICOLAS - Consultant the Fraternity page 39 EDITORIAL STAFF This Year’s Masonic Theme page 45 VW MARLON M. CASTOR GLP strategic Focus for the Editor In-Chief year BRO. REMIR H. MACATANGAY page 47 Associate Editor The Grand Master’s VW JOSE AvELINO I. MAgbANUA Circulation Manager Inaugural SPeech VW GENE B. ILLENBERGER page 51 Art Director An Enchanting Afternoon MS. JENNIFER C. MAGALLANES with the Ladies of AnCom Secretary 2016 The Cable Tow is the official publication of the Most page 58 Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines. It is a bi-monthly publication for and in The Taking of Taal the interest of the members of the subordinate lodges in this page 62 jurisdiction, who are regular subscribers thereto. Original articles are subjected to editing, and when published becomes The Southern Warden of the intellectual property of the publication. Any article the Grand South published in The Cable Tow may be reprinted in full, or excerpts thereof reproduced, provided proper attribution to page 66 the author is made, the source is given due credit, and The tribute to the brethren of Cable Tow desk is furnished with a courtesy copy of the reprinted material. The publication holds office at the 2/F AnCom 2016 Plaridel Masonic Temple, 1440 San Marcelino St., Ermita, page 68 Manila D 2801, Philippines. PAID ADVERTISEMENTS ARE ACCEPTED FOR PRINTING IN THE CABLE TOW. 3 The Cable Tow Vol. 93 Special Issue No. 1 My dear brethren: Allow me to express my sincere appreciation to all my brothers in the craft for your splendid display of support and cooperation during our recently-held 100th ANCOM at Tagaytay City. The sheer size of the delegates who trooped to the ANCOM site, patiently registered, paid their fees, formally dressed up, and enthusiastically-participated in the ANCOM proceedings speak volumes of the zeal and desire of Filipino masons to keep the fire of masonry well-lit and bright in this jurisdiction. And I shall rise to the challenge of further improving ourselves in Freemasonry through the best way – the Masons Way! As I start off my general address to the brethren with this first issue of theC able Tow under the new term, I wish to emphasize an important but often neglected virtue – that of being prompt in everything we do. We should avoid being late. We should all strive to start on time—be it on lodge opening, committee hearing, installation and other Masonic ceremonies, etc. This is a simple and very much doable attitude correction which will surely yield positive results. It is about time we implement Masonic time. The Cable Tow should be the first visible manifestation of promptness from the Grand Lodge. I exhort the management and editorial staff of our bi-monthly publication to maintain its timely and efficient circulation all throughout the term and the next. Keep the charge. MW VOLTAIRE T. GAZMIN Grand Master of Masons, 2016-2017 4 The Cable Tow Vol. 93 Special Issue No. 1 To our beloved brethren, Fraternal greetings! In an effort reminiscent of the age of the great temple builders, the world has yet again witnessed in marvel at the efforts of dedicated craftsmen at work towards a common plan. It is indeed amazing when the determined group of individuals—working in harmony and unison, are able to succeed and accomplish such a seemingly daunting task as the staging of the 100th Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Philippines. It is this same energy that propels every Masonic lodge of this jurisdiction to achieve feats that are otherwise impossible for one man alone. And despite the challenges that have been thrown our way, our earnest desire to provide the best possible AnCom of recent history to our beloved brethren has nevertheless endured. Truly, we have been fortunate to have been given the opportunity to be of service to the Grand Lodge in such capacity as the organizing body of its AnCom. The experience of being able to learn the intricacies and veiled complexities behind the event has been both rewarding and enriching in our continuous journey as master masons. Yet, the success of AnCom 2016 must be shared not only with a select group of brethren, but also with those who in one way or another, have been instrumental in accomplishing the mission that was laid before us more than a year ago. Thus, in behalf of theA nCom 2016 Executive Committee, we extend our sincerest gratitude and appreciation to the brethren of the host district, NCR-G with special mention to King Solomon Lodge No. 150 and Palanyag Lodge No. 323, to the brethren of Tagaytay and Cavite for allowing us to hold this event in your backyard, to the city government of Tagaytay for the assistance that they have extended, to the officers and staff of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines for their support and coordination, to our beloved sponsors and supporters, and most of all, to all those brethren who attended this year’s AnCom—maraming, maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat! And of course, no Masonic endeavor would be successful without the aid of Divine Providence that continues to guide us in all our labors. Mabuhay ang Gran Lohia ng Pilipinas! Mabuhay ang Masonerya! VW SIXTO S. ESQUIVIAS IV Chairman, AnCom 2016 Executive Committee 5 DURING THE LAST WEEK OF APRIL 2016, thousands of members Tagaytay of the world’s oldest fraternity—the Freemasons, coming from various parts and the of the country and in some parts of the globe met in conclave and fellowship for the 100th Annual Communication April (AnCom) of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines at the Taal Vista Hotel in Ancom the beautiful city of Tagaytay, province of Cavite last April 28-30, 2016. fever With theme, “Personify Freemasonry. Be the better person through the best way. Think, speak, and act The Cable Tow Vol. 93 Special Issue No. 1 the Mason’s Way”, the event intends to promote and enjoy nature and each other’s companies. coordination and harmony among the more than 20,000 members of the fraternity in the Philippines Tee-off started at 6am wherein players were divided and to strengthen international ties with other Grand into flights to facilitate an organized staging of Lodges of foreign jurisdictions. tournament. Afterwards, the players proceeded to the clubhouse for some refreshments as well as the KICKING OFF THE ANCOM WEEK awarding ceremonies and fellowship.
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